12 dynamic sky-watching goals for 2012

If you've been following this column for a few years, then you know I like to make a list of things to view for the upcoming year. It's nothing fancy - just a guide to help me achieve some goals and to learn more about the sky and our amazing universe.

I'm sharing it again just to give you a few ideas of what's ahead for 2012.

1) Watch Venus. The year opens with Venus as an evening "star" high in the southwest. Venus is near Neptune on Friday and then transits the sun June 5.

2) Observe all the planets. For starters, you can view Venus and Jupiter after sundown now. Mars rises about 11 p.m., so you're a third of the way finished, and it's only January!

3) Admire all five naked-eye planets March 3. Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Mars and Saturn make an appearance during this busy sky-watching night.

4) View Venus near the Pleiades open star cluster April 3.

5) Watch the annular eclipse of the sun May 20. You'll need to travel a bit west to view this spectacular event, so it's the perfect excuse to go on a road trip.

6) Learn 12 constellations. Amp up the learning curve and research their mythology.

7) Learn 12 stars by name. It's easier than you think, and if you learn one each month, it's a very easy goal to achieve.

8) Be thrilled by the Perseid meteor shower Aug. 12. The moon won't interfere with viewing this year, so it's going to be a very nice show.

9) Observe more comets. I've seen more than 30, and they remain my favorite objects to watch. Each one has its own personality and is uniquely beautiful. If you observe just one, then I'm positive you'll be hooked and want to see more of these intriguing beauties.

10) Add an asteroid to your repertoire. It's easier than you might think. Vesta and Ceres are currently binocular bright. See No. 12 for an exciting chance to view the asteroid Ceres.

11) Watch the moon cover Jupiter during the July 15 occultation.

12) Watch the moon occult, or cover, the asteroid Ceres on Sept. 9.

My list is not carved in stone and will be revised as the year progresses since the sky is so dynamic. You never know when a supernova might appear or a once-in-a-lifetime bright comet might be discovered.